D&D 5E Can your Druids wear metal armor?

[Crimson Longinus]

I think where we diverge slightly here is that the Druids aren't a monolithic religion.

Many, many, many druids hate undead, feel they are unnatural and evil and should be destroyed on sight. Spore Druids always have Animate Dead prepared and can create zombies almost at will (not looking up the restrictions)

I'm sure a Star Druid who focuses on and worships the stars and constellations has a very different religion to the Wildfire druid who embraces the power of flames and has a portion of their soul they can summon as a living flame.


So, even if you say "druidism is a religion" there are already by neccesity multiple sects within that religion with vastly different beliefs. So, how does it make sense that every single one of them has this utterly bizzare idea that metal armor is the sign of modern society... but has no problem with using gold coins to fund a modern banking venture? Do most druids want to do that? Probably not, but that doesn't mean that we should discount the fact that they can, and someone might want to. But at the same time, they are utterly restricted and unable to muster the willpower to pick up and use a metal shield.

And for that reason I don't think it necessarily would be a problem if there was one druid subclass, that waived the metal limitation, if that made thematic sense for that subclass.

 

[Undrave]

“Naturalistic language”…. Bah! It’s like “Rulings not rule” a platitude used to excuse bad designs.

Technically it wouldn't. 'Will not' is part of the rules of druid class, so it doesn't go away by gaining levels in another class. Now if majority of levels are paladin, then certainly might be a good reason for GM to waive the restriction. Though it seems far cooler to me to give the druid/paladin some sort of naturey chitin and/or wood based magical armour.

Which would make it the only ‘rule’ in the game to deny you something from your other class when you MC… You can wear a full plate for ten level of Paladin of the Ancient and then have no choice but to get rid of it after 1 level of Druid?!?

 

[DnD Warlord]

So what if my character is not referring to himself as a Druid. (I mean I have seen at least a hundred fighters over the years and almost none would describe themselves as a fighter).
min that case am I bound by a taboo of a class I level dipped into that has no rule stating that I CANNOT or what happens if I DO were armor?
In the case of my multi classed character I never planned on more then the 1 level of Druid. My casting was all multi class casting (I have no paliden slots no Druid slots no cleric slots, just slots) because we started at 5th level I never even declaimed what cantrip came from what class… so the most this could do would be make it so I can’t prep goodberry?

 

[Undrave]

What would you think if I just picked a random rule written in the book and started to argue it is not a rule? Wouldn't you think it is weird? "No Pact of the Blade is just fluff, not a rule and doesn't actually do anything!" Like, what?

This discussion is so long and frustrating because instead of simply discussing how the intent of the rule could be implemented better (and pretty much everyone agrees it could be better) it gets bogged down arguing about whether there is a rule in the first place.

I’ve done both multiple times.

It is perfectly clear if you dispense with the completely unfounded notion that a piece of text giving explicit instruction in the middle of other rules somehow might not be a rule.

And it wouldn’t be interpreted as a rule if the same sentence appeared ANYWHERE else.

 

[DnD Warlord]

“Naturalistic language”…. Bah! It’s like “Rulings not rule” a platitude used to excuse bad designs.


Which would make it the only ‘rule’ in the game to deny you something from your other class when you MC… You can wear a full plate for ten level of Paladin of the Ancient and then have no choice but to get rid of it after 1 level of Druid?!?

Again this is why it only makes sense as “will not” as flavor text.

 

[DnD Warlord]

"Druids will not wear armour or use shields made of metal." If your druid wears armour made of metal armour, was this rule followed?

You know back to this… if it was a rule and someone broke it by performing an allowed in game action (like picking up a Sheild) then what

 

[Crimson Longinus]

Which would make it the only ‘rule’ in the game to deny you something from your other class when you MC…

Not really the only, if you actually want to do stuff. If your paladin multiclasses into a monk and wants to actually do monk stuff (which presumably is the reason for multiclassing into a monk in the first place) then they're not gonna wear their plate either. Sure, druid restriction is a flat out no, but the end result is the same; one class preventing use of feature from another class.

You can wear a full plate for ten level of Paladin of the Ancient and then have no choice but to get rid of it after 1 level of Druid?!?

Yes. And if it is a spiritual, metaphysical or religious requirement to be accepted in the druidic order and be taught their secrets, it makes sense. And as a level eleven character, you hopefully can get access to some magic armour, and those can come with alternate materials quirk.

 

[Crimson Longinus]

So what if my character is not referring to himself as a Druid. (I mean I have seen at least a hundred fighters over the years and almost none would describe themselves as a fighter).
min that case am I bound by a taboo of a class I level dipped into that has no rule stating that I CANNOT or what happens if I DO were armor?
In the case of my multi classed character I never planned on more then the 1 level of Druid. My casting was all multi class casting (I have no paliden slots no Druid slots no cleric slots, just slots) because we started at 5th level I never even declaimed what cantrip came from what class… so the most this could do would be make it so I can’t prep goodberry?

The fluff you come up for your character doesn't alter the rules. Though it might be a reason for the GM to accept to houserule things.

 

[Remathilis]

You've used this specific phrase quite a lot, and it's arguably appropriate for some of the weird proposals being tossed around in this thread.

But not every conceivable instance that a druid might choose to wear metal armor is a "bizarre" strawman. Not every druid wants metal prosthetics, or iron skin, or is trying to subvert the Circle, or something else. Sometimes they just want to survive, or doubt, or end up deceived. Ordinary, non-metagamey, non-nefarious stuff.

For example (yet again) a druid looking for a way to quickly boost his defense against this bad guy right here right now so he doesn't die is not bizarre. There is simply no good reason* for the GM to deny the player their right to have their own character choose to use or not use a shield in such a basic, very relatable, and more definitely NOT A STRAWMAN case.

Forget the lore for a moment; this RAW can completely contradict the basic human instinct of survival, which is one of those unwritten underlying "rules" like gravity or greed that player's assume in order to operate in the game world.

One of the GM's responsibilities is to correct obviously bad rules.
And this is one of those horrible rules.

Anyway, I get you like the rule. Cool. But please, please, please stop insinuating that those who don't like it are basing that dislike on "bizarre strawmen". Because we're not. We have very good, very legitimate reasons for disagreeing.

* That is correct: Nonsensically hewing religiously to RAW makes no more sense than a druid nonsensically hewing religiously to the no-metal vow.

I want all my characters to have the best chance of survival and the best ability to do damage. Ergo, all my PCs should begin with proficiencies in all weapons and armor.

 

[Undrave]

Not really the only, if you actually want to do stuff. If your paladin multiclasses into a monk and wants to actually do monk stuff (which presumably is the reason for multiclassing into a monk in the first place) then they're not gonna wear their plate either. Sure, druid restriction is a flat out no, but the end result is the same; one class preventing use of feature from another class.


Yes. And if it is a spiritual, metaphysical or religious requirement to be accepted in the druidic order and be taught their secrets, it makes sense. And as a level eleven character, you hopefully can get access to some magic armour, and those can come with alternate materials quirk.

Except that the Monk/Paladin can still wear the Full Plate if they so choose, fully aware of the consequences. But you take 1 level in Druid and suddenly that’s it! No more choices for you buckaroo! I don’t care this armor is a family heirloom, you can’t use it anymore and you can’t back away from that level of Druid even if you never take another!

it’s insane.